Guilt's Cost: Part 193

Acceptance

By Kristen Williams

 

            The rest of the day was filled with Vincent and Tifa catching up with Nanaki, Barrett, and Marlene, as well as getting to know Santicia and the cubs.  Vincent had to admit to himself that there was something very comforting about being in the presence of Nanaki, as they shared an understanding about each other that not many else were privy to.  They didn't need to rehash the past of both having suffered at Hojo's hands; there was just an unspoken camaraderie that the two had always had with each other.  Nanaki sat beside the chair that Vincent was in, and Vincent unconsciously allowed his left hand to dangle over the armrest and stroked the large cat's head.  Nanaki in turn just purred quietly.  He knew that it did Vincent good to touch him and it didn't bother the cat, since Vincent didn't treat him otherwise like a pet.

            Despite the fact that Marlene was just twelve years old, she had proven to be a proficient cook and she made them a sizable dinner.  As they sat eating, she even went so far as to tell Vincent and Tifa that she wanted to be a professional chef when she grew up, and that Barrett had a large college fund for her.  It was going to be needed because when she was a little older she was slated to attend the prestigious Junon Culinary Institute.  Barrett beamed with pride as his adopted daughter shared this with their guests.  He was going to see to it that all of his little girl's dreams came true and nothing was going to stop him.  Despite all the tragedy and hardship that there had been in her life, she was remarkably mature and well together.

            When night fell, everyone went outside for a bonfire.  Many of the canyon's residents had received word by now that there were visitors, and so several people showed up.  The party ran long into the night.  Eventually, Vincent got tired of being around that many people and so took a walk and finally perched himself atop of some rocks.  Sitting there in the night air, he thought back to nearly two years ago, when he was living in the desert alone, convincing himself to go and find Tifa.  He smiled at the memory.  Despite all that had happened between then and now, he was happier than he had ever been.

            He was snapped out of his reverie when he heard something behind him.  Vincent looked over his shoulder and placed a hand upon the gun at his side.  To his relief he saw that it was only Nanaki.

            The cat easily leapt up onto the rocks and lay down beside Vincent.  "Still not one for large crowds, I see."

            One corner of Vincent's mouth tugged up into a quick smirk.  "No, I guess I'm not."

            Nanaki nodded slightly.  He sniffed at the night air a few times and then stared at Vincent with his amber eye.  "You still make a habit of carrying candy with you?"

            This time, Vincent broke out into a wide smile, remembering how the cat always begged sweets off of him.  He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a chocolate mint.  Vincent pulled it from the wrapper and then tossed it toward Nanaki, who caught it mid air as well as any mundane dog would. 

            After Nanaki had swallowed the candy, he flopped to his side.  "So, I smell a lot more machine now.  Hojo took the rest of your body, I gather?"

            Vincent shrugged and looked off into the distance.  Nanaki was perhaps the one creature with whom he could discuss these matters without becoming emotional.  "Yeah, he did, but in a few months, I'm going to have my body back so all will be right again."

            The great cat, who had drunk a large amount of beer during the party, rolled over onto his back.  "You had your revenge upon Hojo though, right?"

            He knit his brow at the mention of the madman's name, and stared down to the gold wedding band upon his left hand.  "I did.  He will never hurt anyone ever again.  The only reason I survived that fight with him was because Jaras was there.  Strange how everything works out sometimes, huh?"

            Nanaki agreed.  "Indeed.  I, too, take comfort in knowing that he is gone from this plane of existence once and for all.  Too bad so many had to suffer before his end."

            "I know, but it's over now."  Vincent didn't intend to change the topic mid-discussion, but his mind was wandering out of his fatigue.  "Angel announced awhile back that she's pregnant."

            "So you are to become a grandfather?"

            "Yes."  Vincent shook his head and smiled.

            "Do you still hold your animosity toward your son-in-law?" Nanaki asked.

            "I've come to understand Reno on some level, I think."  He shrugged.  "He likes to play the part of the obnoxious bastard, but he's not actually that bad."  Once more, Vincent jumped subjects.  "I would probably have taken it a lot worse, if I hadn't been so drained by my brother's death."

            Nanaki uprighted himself and cocked his head.  "I couldn't believe that he had died when Tifa mentioned it earlier today."  The cat immediately sensed the change in Vincent's composure and went on carefully.  "Do you wish to tell me what happened?"

            Vincent hung his head and his shoulders slouched.  "It was the last time that Chaos came out of me.  Tseng got between him and an escape, and he was thrown into a wall.  The doctor said that the injuries he sustained were like something you'd see in a bad car wreck.  They did all they could for him, but he just wasn't able to pull through.  I felt responsible for it and I still do to some extent, even though I know that it was Chaos and not I.  At least now I can find solace in the fact that Chaos is no more.  I hope he's burning in the same Hell as Hojo."

            "If that demon had a soul to burn…" Nanaki sighed and looked up at the stars.

            "True."  Vincent looked over his shoulder and saw that Tifa had found them.

            She climbed up next to her husband and rested her head on his shoulder.  "I was wondering where the two of you had gotten off to."

            Nanaki purred, "Just getting some quiet time."

            "Oh, I know good and well that Vincent here was just hiding from all the people."  Tifa laughed.

            "You know me too well."  Vincent sighed.

            Tifa shoved him playfully and then looked over at Nanaki.  "So, do you think that Santicia and you will have more cubs?"

            He nodded.  "She and I have hundreds of years to live.  I think we might just manage a few more litters."

            "Well, you have to promise to invite us again next time.  I'd love to see what those cubs look like right after being born.  They are just too cute!"  Tifa smiled widely.

            "I shall."  Nanaki was a very proud father.  "Where will the two of you be settling down after Vincent's… procedure?"

            "We talked about that."  Tifa again placed her head on Vincent's shoulder.  "We are going to find a place out in the country, maybe near Kalm, where we can have chickens and a fish pond."

            "Well, you'll have to give me your address after you settle, so that we can keep in touch," Nanaki replied.

           

***

 

            Tifa and Vincent stayed in Cosmo Canyon for nearly two weeks.  Although the thought of going back to the confines of the base were less than appealing, they had to return.  Quigley and Porter had made significant progress on Vincent's new body, and there were questions that they had to ask him in preparation of the day of the surgery. 

            Upon arrival back at the base, Vincent was quickly taken to the lab to see the acceleration chamber, and was amazed to see his body, now looking to be about the age of four years floating within.  "My God, all that has happened in two weeks?"

            Quigley grinned, quite pleased with himself and tapped on the side of the tank.  "Yup, everything is going swimmingly."

            Porter was sitting close by.  "That thing is growing at an amazing rate.  You have no idea how many times we've had to drain the tank and cut your future self's hair."

            Vincent hadn't even considered the fact that the growing body would need grooming and he was just a little grossed out by that.  "Really?"

            "Yeah, you didn't just think we could grow a body without the nails and hair just taking off did you?"  Porter was amused.

            "I guess not."  Vincent grimaced, but at least they were thinking about these things.

            "Don't get your hopes up of sliding into a new body with a nice long mane though," Quigley said while walking around the tank, "we will have to shave your head for the procedure."

            Again, this wasn't something that Vincent had thought of, but it didn't disturb him too much.  "I think I can handle that. I can lose my vanity for this."

            "Another thing is that even though we are keeping electrodes connected to all the major muscle groups in order to stimulate them and build them up, once the surgery is done and you've had to remain still and healing for what could be weeks, you aren't going to be able to do much for a long time.  Besides having to relearn how to move, you're going to have to go through a lot of physical therapy to get back any kind of strength," Porter interjected from his seat.

            Vincent had already counted on that much and just nodded in response.  He knew that he would do it, no matter what the cost.